A Modern Misunderstanding of Fajr

A modern misunderstanding of Fajr and misapplication of Aqrab al-Ayyām during persistent twilight

Overview

During persistent twilight, some institutions (in England) set the beginning of Fajr to approximately 1.20am. This is a misunderstanding of Fajr and misapplication of Aqrab al-Ayyām (the nearest day). Fajr during this period does actually manifest. It occurs at solar midnight (approximately 1am). We set forward a number of arguments — from the statements of jurists, astronomy, natural order, logic, historical practice, and verses of the Qur’ān — that show Fajr occurs at solar midnight and why the modern understanding of Aqrab al-Ayyām is both irrational and misapplied. [In this article the definition of Maghrib includes white twilight (unless otherwise mentioned).]

i. Jurists explicitly state that Fajr manifests during persistent twilight

Fajr begins, in all four madhāhib, from the appearance of light in the east which expands both horizontally and vertically (al-Fiqh ʿalā al-Madhāhib al-Arbaʿah).[1]

This occurs even during persistent twilight. During this period the signs of ʿIshāʾ (the complete disappearance of twilight) do not occur, but the signs of Fajr (spreading light) do. Light begins to spread at solar midnight (also known as half night, solar anti-transit time and Nisf al-Layl) by consensus. Hence, during this period, Fajr is established by definition and it is not appropriate to make an estimation for it like we do with ʿIshāʾ.

This has been mentioned explicitly by a number of authorities including Imām Ibn ʿĀbidīn al-Shāmī (raḥimahu Allāhu). He says that during persistent twilight,

“The disagreement between jurists of the (Ḥanafī) school is only about the compulsion of ʿIshāʾ and Witr. We have never seen anyone who said that Fajr is also qaḍāʾ in this situation. But they termed it Fajr. This is because Fajr according to them is the name of spreading light on the horizon exactly as it is confirmed in authentic ḥadīth as previously mentioned without any condition of darkness preceding it.”[2]

Jurists did not treat Fajr like ʿIshāʾ. During persistent twilight, the signs of ʿIshāʾ do not occur. Hence there is a discussion amongst jurists about the necessity and mode of offering ʿIshāʾ. However, Imām Ibn ʿĀbidīn (raḥimahu Allāhu) explains that the same discussion does not exist for Fajr, because jurists do regard it as occurring. He explains that Fajr is simply spreading light which occurs even during persistent twilight. Ḥanafī jurists have two opinions regarding ʿIshāʾ during persistent twilight:

1) the obligation is dropped, and

2) the obligation remains as qaḍāʾ.

DID YOU BENEFIT FROM ISLAM21C TODAY?

You can also share in the reward of benefiting Millions of Muslims across the world by helping run Islam21c this Ramadan.

We rely firstly on Allah, and then you. We need your support, multiply your reward this Ramadan.

Regarding the second, the Imām says, “They (our jurists) have only considered ʿIshāʾ present by making it obligatory to perform after Fajr”.[3] If the signs of Fajr also do not occur, then using the same methodology, Fajr too would be offered as qaḍāʾ. He says that this is unheard of, because Fajr is simply spreading light which occurs during persistent twilight. [Twilight begins to spread at solar midnight.]

The Imām explains that if Fajr were to be estimated during persistent twilight it would lead to the inconsistency that “ṣubḥ does not start with the (actual) rising of dawn.”[4]

He also explains that Fajr occurs even at extreme latitudes where Maghrib lasts for only a few minutes. He discusses the scenario with regards to “lands where dawn occurs just as the sun is setting or sometime after it sets such that there is not enough time for a person who is fasting to eat enough food to sustain himself.” The Imām says, “We cannot maintain that fasting is not obligatory under these conditions due to the existence of the reason for the fast — witnessing part of the month (of Ramadān) and the occurrence of dawn every day (‏طلوع فجر كل يوم‎).” [5] Since ṭulūʿ al-Fajr occurs, the Imām concludes that fasting is necessary. The dispensation which the Imām gives to delay the beginning of the fast in this situation is only out of necessity to preserve one’s life and not because there is leeway in determining the actual beginning of dawn.

Imām Aḥmad al-Ṭaḥṭāwī (raḥimahu Allāhu) also says that during persistent twilight, “Fajroccurs with the manifestation of whiteness spreading from the eastern side (of the sky).”[6] He too explains that darkness is not a condition for Fajr. [During persistent twilight this definition occurs at solar midnight. Since the definition of Fajr occurs, estimation is not applicable.]

He says, “And where dawn occurs (‏طلع الفجر‎) before the ending of the red twilight (of Maghrib), their fast is for (almost) the entire night. They should only eat once or twice with a short gap, before the appearance of dawn.”[7]

Imām Badr al-Dīn al-ʿAynī (raḥimahu Allāhu) says, “It is said that some of the people of Bolghar do not find the time of ʿIshāʾ for (approximately) 40 nights every year. As the sun sets from the west, dawn appears (‏يظهر الفجر‎) from the east.”[8] [Twilight begins to rise when the sun moves into the east. This begins at solar midnight.]

Imām al-Zaylaʿī (raḥimahu Allāhu) says, “Those who do not find the time of ʿIshāʾ and Witr because they are living in a place where dawn rises (‏طلع الفجر‎) after sunset or before shafaq disappears, they (ʿIshāʾ and Witr) are not necessary upon them because there is no cause…”[9]

It is very clear from these statements that during persistent twilight authorities in the Ḥanafī school regarded Fajr as having a real beginning. As such the discussion on necessity, estimation and qaḍāʾ was not for Fajr, but only ʿIshāʾ.

Persistent twilight has also been discussed by a number of Shāfiʿī jurists. Qāḍī Ḥusayn al-Murūzī (raḥimahu Allāhu) says, “As for those inhabitants of lands where nights are short and the evening twilight does not fade, they should pray ʿIshāʾ when such time has passed as the extent of twilight in the lands closest to them.”[10]

This position is reaffirmed by Imām al-Rifāʿī (raḥimahu Allāhu), Imām al-Nawawī (raḥimahu Allāhu) and others. It is clear from their discussion that they only considered the problem of prayer during persistent twilight to do with ʿIshāʾ. They did not consider Fajr similarly affected. Moreover they refer to its occurrence as normal. This is because (as Ibn ʿĀbidīn explains) Fajr is simply the term for spreading light on the horizon, which still occurs during persistent twilight, albeit not preceded by total darkness.

Imām Ibn Ḥajar al-Haytamī (raḥimahu Allāhu) says that artificially setting Fajr during persistent twilight is very far-fetched (‏بعيد جدا‎) because it overrides the local manifestation of dawn. He says,

“Some also considered the nearest place for Fajr, but this is very far-fetched (incorrect). How can the physical manifestation of Fajr with them be cancelled and replaced by Fajr of a place near to them?”[11]

Note that the suggestion here of some (unnamed) using the nearest place for Fajr is because their method of estimating ʿIshāʾ (by adding the absolute time period of Maghrib at the nearest place to the local time of Maghrib) places ʿIshāʾ after the local time of Fajr. This contravenes the universal principle that Fajr follows ʿIshāʾ. Hence they are forced to set Fajr artificially to keep the necessary sequence of ṣalāḥ. Ibn Ḥajar (raḥimahu Allāhu) says setting Fajr like this is far-fetched because it overrides the local manifestation of dawn. The same contention is mentioned by Ibn ʿĀbidīn (raḥimahu Allāhu) above. The proper way of setting ʿIshāʾ, which would not lead to this irregularity, is by using ratios as Imām Ibn Ḥajar (raḥimahu Allāhu) and others explain (further detail in Section ii).

Using the nearest place for ʿIshāʾ and Fajr by ratio, sets Fajr to solar midnight. This is because at the nearest place ʿIshāʾ is momentary. Hence half the night will be Maghrib and half the night Fajr. In essence, both the Ḥanafī solution of qaḍāʾ and the Shāfiʿī solution of using the nearest place are the same. Both place ʿIshāʾ at solar midnight. However the Shāfiʿīs offer it immediately (by restricting it to a momentary interval) and the Ḥanafīs allow it to be delayed (as qaḍāʾ). Hence the same time falls out of the separate principles of each school while assuming the characteristics of each school — Maghrib for example is offered immediately by the Shāfiʿīs and by the Ḥanafīs with scope for delay.

Authorities in the Shāfiʿī school give permission to use an artificial time for dawn in only two scenarios: 1) when there is no complete cycle of sunset and sunrise in one day, and 2) when there is not enough time between Maghrib and Fajr in Ramadān to eat enough to preserve one’s life. This is for extreme latitudes and not for the UK. Moreover the second is only with regards to fasting and not Fajr prayer.

Imām Aḥmad al-Ramlī (raḥimahu Allāhu) says that “If ʿIshāʾ time does not occur and Fajr (‏طلع الفجر‎) was immediately after sunset, qaḍāʾ becomes binding.”[12] In other words, if the period of ʿIshāʾ does not occur and the period of Maghrib is so momentary that Maghrib cannot be offered on time, ʿIshāʾ as well as Maghrib will be offered as qaḍāʾ. It will not be allowed to assume an artificial time for Maghrib and Fajr. An artificial time can only be assumed out of necessity to preserve a fasting person’s life or if there is no complete cycle of sunrise and sunset in one day.

He continues to explain, “(al-Zarkashī and Ibn ʿImād) have allowed (using the timing of night in the nearest place) as long as the time of the disappearance of the sun does not allow a fasting person to eat sufficiently, due to this being difficult to act on. Thus, they are forced to use such an approximation. This is contrary to if there was sufficient time to eat. This cannot be compared to the days of Dajjāl as night does exist in this scenario even though it is minimal. If the night becomes so short that there is only time to eat or to perform Maghrib, one will eat and perform Maghrib as qaḍāʾ.”

Even in the extreme situation of not having time to offer Maghrib and eat before dawn, it will not be permitted to assume an artificial time for dawn. A person will eat and pray Maghrib as qaḍāʾ. A person will only have recourse to estimation for suḥūr if there is not enough time to eat to sustain himself. This is out of necessity to preserve his life. It is clear from this that if the physical signs of ṣalāḥ occur, no matter how briefly, they must be observed. If a person is unable to pray on time, he will make qaḍāʾ.

Imām Aḥmad al-Ramlī (raḥimahu Allāhu) further explains that estimating a time for fasting can be acceptable if the gap between sunset and Fajr is only for the length of time between both ʿIshāʾs (ie. the time between the ending of red and white twilights). This is 3° (as explained by Imām al-Sharwānī in his metacommentary), which is about 15 minutes (for him). If sunset to Fajr is for 15 minutes or less, then a person has recourse (for fasting) to adopt the night of the nearest place where there is sufficient time to eat. This only occurs near the Arctic and Antarctic Circles. In places where sunset to Fajr is longer than 15 minutes, a fasting person can eat enough to sustain himself, and hence there is no necessity to impose an artificial night over the actual times of sunset and dawn.

What is also apparent from this discussion is that estimation based on the analogy of the ḥadīth of Dajjāl can only be used when there is no complete cycle of sunset and sunrise in one day. Moreover, the Ḥanafīs hold that the ḥadīth of Dajjāl is specific to that particular supernatural event and cannot be applied by analogy to other than it. Imām al-Ṭaḥṭāwī (raḥimahu Allāhu) says, “As for the ḥadīth of Dajjāl, it is stated that it goes against qiyās, so we cannot do qiyās of other situations based on this ḥadīth.”[13] Both these situations (no sunset and sunrise in one day, and the specific supernatural event mentioned) are not (currently) applicable to the UK.

The summary of these discussions is that during persistent twilight, Fajr does indeed occur. Fajr is simply a term for spreading light on the horizon, and as such it occurs even during persistent twilight as explicitly explained by multiple authorities from multiple schools.

This spreading of light begins at solar midnight. This is an astronomical fact. Estimation during this period is only for ʿIshāʾ because the definition of ʿIshāʾ is not met. The definition of Fajr (spreading light) occurs. To artificially set Fajr to another time is contrary to reality.

Briefly, four positions have been mentioned for ʿIshāʾ during persistent twilight, in the discussions above: 1. ʿIshāʾ is to be offered at the disappearance of red twilight (when this occurs); 2. the obligation drops; 3. ʿIshāʾ is to be offered as qaḍāʾ (after ṭulūʿ al-Fajr); and 4. ʿIshāʾ is to be offered according to the timing of the nearest place where ʿIshāʾ occurs.

These four positions are practically demonstrated by the people of Bolghar as described by Muftī Hārūn al-Marjānī (raḥimahu Allāhu). Bolghar was a significant Muslim city (largely Ḥanafī) from the 4th to 9th century AH, located in present day Russia at a latitude of 55° (similar to that of the UK).

Muftī Hārūn al-Marjānī (raḥimahu Allāhu) says that during persistent twilight in Bolghar: some considered the obligation of ʿIshāʾ had dropped (as per 2 above); some considered that ʿIshāʾ should be offered individually out of fear it may not be an obligatory prayer (as per 2); some considered ʿIshāʾ according to other madhāhib (as per 1 and 4); some considered the disappearance of red twilight for ʿIshāʾ (as per 1); some held that the twilight of Maghrib disappeared from the side the sun sets (the west) and the twilight of Fajr appeared from the side the sun rises (the east) and would therefore not eat after half the night if they were fasting (as per solar midnight); some prayed ʿIshāʾ during the night but with the intention of qaḍāʾ of ʿIshāʾ the night before (as per 3); some considered half the night for ʿIshāʾ (as per 3); and some considered the nearest place where ʿIshāʾ occurred for ʿIshāʾ (as per 4).

All of these practises fit into our discussion above. ʿIshāʾ was offered according to the four positions mentioned, but Fajr was only offered according to solar midnight. Jurists regarded Fajr as occurring, as previously mentioned from Imām Badr al-Dīn al-ʿAynī (raḥimahu Allāhu) that in Bolghar “…dawn appears from the east.” This occurs at solar midnight. Hence there is no mention by Muftī Hārūn al-Marjānī of Fajr being offered at any other time. Specifically he says,

“Some consider that the twilight of Maghrib disappears from the side the sun sets. What remains on the other side from which the sun rises, after the sun reaches the lower meridian (‏خط نصف النهار‎), is classed as dawn. This is why they regarded eating suḥūr after half the night forbidden during this period.”[14]

The same stance (of furthering various methods for setting ʿIshāʾ while regarding Fajr as occurring) is also taken by contemporary jurists such as Muftī ʿAbd al-Raḥīm Lajpurī (raḥimahu Allāhu) and Muftī Rashīd Aḥmad Ludhiānwī (raḥimahu Allāhu). Muftī Rashīd (perhaps by virtue of his expertise in astronomy) explicitly states that it is an astronomical fact that Fajr begins at solar midnight during persistent twilight (further detail in Section ii).

ii. Using a fixed time of 1.20am throughout the persistent twilight period is not Aqrab al-Ayyām according to the sharʿī day

A sharʿī/real day is from Maghrib to Maghrib. This is slightly different to the civil day that we commonly use. The civil day is exactly 86,400 seconds. The length of a sharʿī day changes every day and is slightly shorter or longer than the civil day. Since the civil day is a fixed arbitrary period of 86,400 seconds, it cannot be used to set Aqrab al-Ayyām. Aqrab al-Ayyām must be fixed in relation to the sharʿī/real day, and not a fixed arbitrary period of time. In doing so, the calculated time of Aqrab al-Ayyām will change every day, because the length of the real day changes every day.

Setting Aqrab al-Ayyām using the sharʿī day is done by using the ratio of twilight duration to night duration on the last day (before persistent twilight begins) and applying this ratio to the day for which ʿIshāʾ is to be estimated.

“One should look at the period of Maghrib at the nearest place. If the ratio (of Maghrib to night at the nearest place) is 1⁄6 then that ratio should be used for Maghrib locally, and the remaining time will be for ʿIshāʾ even if it is very short.” [15]

Note that not using ratios but the absolute length of Maghrib for setting the local time of ʿIshāʾ can lead to overriding the local manifestation of dawn and sunrise which is not proper as mentioned by the Imām previously.

The same method of estimating ʿIshāʾ is also mentioned referenced from the Shāfiʿī school by Imām al-Ṭaḥṭāwī (raḥimahu Allāhu),[16] and by contemporary jurists such as Muftī Rashīd Ludhiānwī (raḥimahu Allāhu). Muftī Rashīd (raḥimahu Allāhu) says, “You will look at the gap for ʿIshāʾ after sunset on the last day, and then use this ratio to calculate the beginning of ʿIshāʾ. The ending time of ʿIshāʾ will be solar midnight.”

Muftī Rashīd (raḥimahu Allāhu) is very clear that during persistent twilight Fajr does occur, and that it begins at solar midnight by definition (not by estimation). He says, “In principle this fact is known that the twilight before solar midnight belongs to Maghrib and the twilight after solar midnight belongs to Fajr.”[17]

As mentioned, ʿIshāʾ is set by applying the ratio of Maghrib to night at the closest day/place to the local night every day. The length of night and the civil time of Maghrib change every day, and so the time of Aqrab al-Ayyām will also change throughout the persistent twilight period. For example, if the ratio of Maghrib to night on the last day is 9⁄10 and the local time of Maghrib is 8pm and the night is 5 hours long, then ʿIshāʾ will be calculated at 12:30am. When the local time of Maghrib becomes 10pm and the length of the night becomes 3 hours long, then ʿIshāʾ will be calculated at 12:42am. Using a fixed time of 12.30am throughout the twilight period is not a correct determination of Aqrab al-Ayyām. Just as the times of Maghrib and the length of night change every day, so too will the calculated time of ʿIshāʾ.

iii. Aqrab al-Ayyām is not always at 1.20am

Aqrab al-Ayyām does not always occur at 1:20am. The actual Last Day time (the day before persistent twilight began, where the fajr was preceded by darkness) can be many minutes earlier. As latitude changes, the Last Day time will occur anywhere from solar midnight onwards (approximately 1am to 1:25am in England) depending on location and year. Different areas of England will enter into persistent twilight on different days. Places in each of these areas will go through the full range of times from 1am to 1.25am, and the time will change every year.

For example, Queens Road, Walthamstow (lat: 51.5785°, lon: -0.0234°) has the following Last Day times according to Her Majesty’s Nautical Almanac Office: 1:07am (2017), 1:13am (2018), 1:17am (2019), 1.20am (2020).

When the calculated time is too early, some institutes take the step of ignoring the Last Day time and using the time on the day before the Last Day. For example they say, “Using the exact last day causes problems particularly during a leap year so the day immediately before the last is used.” This keeps Aqrab al-Ayyām near the customary time of 1.20am.

Hence Aqrab al-Ayyām as implemented today is three times removed from proper usage: 1) by using it for Fajr which occurs, 2) by fixing it in civil time instead of sharʿī time, and 3) by often not using the actual time on the actual “Last Day” for that particular location.

iv. The margin of error on the Last Day is too large to fix dawn to the minute

Fajr is a visual phenomenon which is affected by a number of unpredictable factors such as refraction and composition of the atmosphere. These change daily. As such calculated Fajr times come with a margin of error. In texts and scientific literature we rarely find dawn quoted to more precision than half a degree. Usually we can ignore the uncertainty because it is only in the order of a few minutes. However when we calculate Fajr on and around the Last Day, the sun is near inflection. Because of this, on and around the Last Day, the uncertainty is in the order of tens of minutes. Hence precaution would require ending suḥūr at the beginning of this uncertainty period and offering Fajr prayer after it. Fixing a single time within this uncertainty range for both ending suḥūr and beginning ṣalāḥ would be inaccurate. By doing so, half of the time suḥūr would be exceeded and the other half of the time Fajr prayer would be offered early.

For example, on 22/11/2017 in Beckton, London (lat: 51.5°, lon: 0.05°) the time of Fajr (18°) is 5:30am. An accuracy of a quarter of a degree gives an uncertainty of ±2 minutes. However on the Last Day (22/05/2017) the time of Fajr is 1:15am with an uncertainty of ±15 minutes. In other words, using a very nominal variability of a quarter of a degree, we can only calculate when dawn will appear on this day to ±15 minutes. In this situation, fasting would need to be set at 1am and ṣalāḥ at 1:30am. Using Aqrab al-Ayyām while being aware of the limits of calculating dawn on the last day is ultimately equivalent to setting the time of fasting to solar midnight.

v. Setting dawn for shorter nights to later than places with longer nights is not rational

Using Aqrab al-Ayyām for Fajr causes a break of the natural order. We know that in the Northern Hemisphere in the summer, as you travel directly south, the night becomes longer and hence Fajr becomes later. It is not possible that Fajr at a lower latitude will be earlier than Fajr at a higher latitude. Fixing Fajr to 1:20am creates a situation where locations at a lower latitude, which have not yet entered into persistent twilight, can have an earlier Fajr time to places at a higher latitude. This is not consistent with rationality.

For example, Leicester enters into persistent twilight on 18/05/2017. During persistent twilight, Fajr time is set by estimation to 1.20am. On 22/05/2017, Beckton in London is still experiencing normal nights. The calculated time of Fajr is 1:15am. Hence Beckton, which is at a lower latitude and has longer night to Leicester, has an earlier Fajr time to it. This is not rational. 1:20am cannot therefore be an accurate estimation of Fajr in Leicester on that date.

If an estimated time of Fajr is later than the real time at a lower latitude, then the estimation method is evidently incorrect. This occurs when using Aqrab al-Ayyām. It does not occur however when using Closest Place or solar midnight. Perhaps this is why authorities in the Shāfiʿī school do not mention taking the time of the closest day, but rather the closest place (albeit only for ʿIshāʾ).

vi. Determining dawn through categorising twilight in a way that is consistent with the Qur’ān

The Qur’ān says, “And by the dawn when it brightens” [18] and, “And by the dawn when it breathes”. [19] Imām al-Ḍaḥāk (raḥimahu Allāhu) says the meaning of breathe is to rise. Imām Qatadah (raḥimahu Allāhu) says that it means to brighten and advance. During persistent twilight, light begins to spread/brighten/rise/advance at solar midnight. In other words, by the time we get to 1:20am, the quality of dawn in these verses has been occurring for 20 minutes. Twilight has been spreading, brightening, rising and advancing.

The Qur’ān also says, “By the night as it envelops” [20] and, “And by the night when it is still”. [21] Imām Ibn Kathīr (raḥimahu Allāhu) says that envelop means covering with darkness. Imām al-Suyūṭī (raḥimahu Allāhu) says it means enshrouding with darkness. These are the two phases of night: darkening and stillness. Any method to determine Fajr must be consistent with all these verses. It cannot be night when twilight is spreading and brightening. If twilight is spreading and brightening, it is ṣubḥ. As such Aqrab al-Ayyām cannot be considered a correct method to determine the beginning of Fajr. The only time of Fajr, during persistent twilight, that is consistent with these verses is solar midnight.

vii. Determining dawn through categorising the phases of twilight by the rising and setting of the sun

Twilight can only belong to either Maghrib or dawn. We have seen that if twilight is darkening it belongs to Maghrib and if it is brightening it belongs to dawn. Twilight is simply the glow of the sun. It is attached to the sun and follows it. As the sun gets closer to the horizon this light increases. As the sun moves away from the horizon after Maghrib, this light decreases. (Note that the false dawn is not twilight. Hence it decreases even as the sun comes closer to the horizon. It is a separate phenomenon known as zodiacal light and classified by astronomers as skyglow, not twilight.)

The sun reaches its zenith (peak) at solar midday and its nadir (lowest point) at solar midnight. In the Northern Hemisphere, the sun is exactly south when it reaches its zenith during the day and is exactly north when it reaches the nadir. At the zenith the sun moves from the eastern half of the sky to the western half of the sky and begins declining until it reaches the nadir. At the nadir the sun moves from the western half of the sky to the eastern half of the sky and begins rising until it reaches the zenith.

Hence when the sun is in the west, twilight is that of the setting sun and hence belongs to Maghrib, and when it is in the east twilight is that of the rising sun and hence belongs to dawn.

The twilight associated with the sun setting is always in the west and the twilight associated with the sun rising is always in the east. It is impossible that twilight in the east belongs to Maghrib. Twilight is simply a consequence of the setting or rising of the sun.

All astronomical bodies rise when they are in the east and set when they are in the west, since rising and setting is simply a result of the Earth rotating eastwards. The Qur’ān says, “…Ibrāhīm said, ‘Indeed, Allāh brings up the sun from the east, so bring it up from the west.’ So the disbeliever was overwhelmed…”.[22]

Dr. Steve Bell, head of Her Majesty’s Nautical Almanac Office says, “The sun moves from the western half of the sky to the eastern half of the sky at lower transit (nadir).”[23] This is an astronomical fact just as the sun moves from the eastern half of the sky to the western half at upper transit (zenith).

If an Aqrab al-Ayyām time of 1:20am is used, the sun has already been in the east and rising for 20 minutes. It is not possible that this rising twilight belongs to Maghrib.

viii. Determining dawn through the symmetry of the phases of twilight

The sun’s path is symmetrical around the meridian. Since twilight simply follows the sun, the disappearance and appearance of twilight will be symmetrical. The lengths of Maghrib and Fajr are always the same. ʿAllāmah Ẓafar Aḥmad ʿUthmānī (raḥimahu Allāhu) says,

“The redness and whiteness that appear in the horizon after sunset both parallel the whiteness and redness that appear before sunrise, as both result from the illumination of the sun. Hence, the time between sunset and the disappearance of the white shafaq is exactly the same as the time between the appearance of the whiteness of dawn until sunrise, as the scholars of mathematics and astronomy have stated explicitly.”[24]

Because of this symmetry, if disappearing twilight (shafaq) lasts for 1 hour, then spreading twilight (ṣubḥ) will last for 1 hour. Using Aqrab al-Ayyām leads to the irrational proposition that shafaq lasts longer than ṣubḥ. The symmetry of twilight is a necessary consequence of the symmetric path of the sun.

ix. Determining dawn through equivalence

After dawn, each subsequent moment until sunrise is also Fajr. Hence if Fajr is when the sun is at -18°, then it is also Fajr at every angle between -18° and sunrise. The scene on the eastern horizon at all angles between -18° and sunrise will be that of dawn. During persistent twilight, the scene of daybreak on the eastern horizon after solar midnight will be the same scene we would normally consider to be Fajr on an ordinary day. The angle of the sun will be between -18° and sunrise.

x. The determination of early jurists who were also renowned astronomers

A number of early jurists who were renowned astronomers explicitly calculated the latitude of lands which would experience persistent twilight and explained that dawn there would occur at solar midnight.

“Where the latitude is 48.5° … shafaq (the twilight of Maghrib) will be connected to dawn … It is classified as morning as long as the sun is in the east and it will be classified as shafaq as long as the sun is in the west.”[25]

ʿAbd al-ʿAlī al-Barjandī (raḥimahu Allāhu), a tenth century Ḥanafī jurist and expert astronomer says, “When the latitude exceeds 48.5°, dawn and shafaq intertwine as is mentioned in the books but it is clear that when the sun is in the west it is classified as shafaq and when it is in the east it is classified as dawn.”[26]

xi. The logical fallacy of designating an end to Fajr with no beginning; and determining dawn from its ending by induction

Some institutes have said that, “Fajr ends at sunrise but does not have a beginning. Therefore the beginning must be estimated”.

This statement is a logical fallacy. It is impossible that something ends which does not begin. If something ends then it must have begun. So Fajr exists and must have a beginning. As such, using estimation like we do with ʿIshāʾ is not applicable. Things are known to exist by their definitions. We simply apply the definition of Fajr to find its beginning. The definition of spreading light occurs at solar midnight.

Even if we only agree on sunset for the beginning of Maghrib and sunrise for the ending of Fajr, we can still deduce that Fajr begins at solar midnight through induction. We agree that the moment directly after sunset is Maghrib and the moment directly before sunrise is Fajr. If we continue to add moments to sunset and label them as Maghrib, and we continue to subtract moments from sunrise and label them Fajr, then the point at which they meet will be solar midnight. Hence solar midnight will be the beginning of Fajr by induction.

xii. Summary

During persistent twilight, the definition of Fajr (spreading light) occurs at solar midnight. As such the debate about when to pray ṣalāḥ is only with regards to ʿIshāʾ and Witr. No-one (according to Imām Ibn ʿĀbidīn) has extended this situation to Fajr.

The Ḥanafī position is: 1) The obligation of ʿIshāʾ is dropped, or 2) it is offered as qaḍāʾ. The Shāfiʿī position is that ʿIshāʾ is set according to the ratio of night at the nearest place and it ends at the local manifestation of Fajr.

Artificially setting Fajr to Aqrab al-Ayyām, a fraction of the night (such as 1⁄7, 1⁄3, 1⁄4), a number of minutes before sunrise, or the time at a remote place (such as Makkah), is against reality and rationality, and is a modern misunderstanding of the situation.

Furthermore, the modern implementation of Aqrab al-Ayyām is not according to the sharʿī day, is not accurate, and in many cases does not use the proper time on the “Last Day”.

During persistent twilight, the only time for Fajr that is consistent with the definition of Fajr, reality, verses of the Qur’ān, statements of jurists, logic, natural order, and laws of astronomy, is solar midnight.

About Reedwan Iqbal

3 comments

Can someone clarify how to actuslly calculate nisf ul layl? Is it the time from Maghreb to sunrise , then halved?

Also, I notice that back in 2015, the 18 degreees London timetable published on this site states that BOTH isha and fajr Shari signs are not apparent in this period of persistent twilight. However now in this article in 2018 it suggests that there has always been evidence for the Shari signs for fajr irrespective of total darkness/nightfall – have I understood this correctly? If so, is this a contradiction ?

Come on people – time to get a life, and move on from this 2012 nonsense. This site is constantly mentioning unity, and even willing to ignore differences when it comes to creed amongst the Muslims, but when it comes to Fajr timings and this whole 18 degree issue, it’s like you’re obsessed and just stuck on this one issue throughout the whole of Ramadan! Stop causing trouble and think on a “Macro Level” – ring any familiar bells?!

This article has nothing to do with 18 degrees it’s about what to do in persistent twilight. Even if you choose another angle for Fajr you still have to deal with the issue of persistent twilight. Unless your in complete denial.